Ice-tank for refrigerator-cars.



Patented Apr. 2, |90L J. B. WATSON. ICE TANK FOR REFRIGERATOR BARS. (Lppliclfion filed Nov. 24, W00.)

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1 FFICE.

JOHN BROW'N \VATSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'lO FAIRBANK CANNING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

lCE-TANK FOR REFRIGERATOR-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 670,977, dated April 2, 1901. Application filed November 24, 1900. Serial No. 37,701. (No model.)

To all 1071,0177, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN BROWN WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Tanks for Refrigerator- ,Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of icetanks of which two or more are located in the end of a refrigerator-car adjacent to the end wall thereof.

The tanks referred to are usually constructed of galvanized iron, and while in height they are about the height of the carbody their width or breadth is usually only about eighteen to twenty inches.

All ice-tanks of refrigerator-cars accumulate a considerable amount of dirt and rubbish that are carried in on the ice and which also get in at other times. The tanks have therefore to be cleaned frequently, and when tanks of the kind specified are employed considerable difficulty is found in socleaning them. My invention is designed to provide such a tank with means that will enable it to be quickly and effectually cleaned of all dirt and rubbish, which object I accomplish as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described.

That which I believe to be new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are vertical central sections, said sections being taken at right angles to each other; and Fig. 3 is a bottom View.

4 indicates an ice-tank of the kind referred to, supported in place at the end of the car by suitable blocks, as usual. The lower portion only of a tank is shown, as that is sufficient to illustrate my improvements.

5 indicates triangular blocks located in the lower part of the tank against the walls, which blocks serve to deflect the contents of the tank toward the center.

6 indicates the bottom of the tank, said bottom inclining downward toward the center and being bent at its lower end to form a neck 7. As shown, the inclination of the bottom 6 corresponds to that of the exposed faces of the triangular blocks 5.

8 indicates a plug adapted to enter the open lower end of the neck 7. This plug is formed with or secured to a backingplate 9, which at one side carries an arm 10, provided with a longitudinal slot 11. The plug 8, plate 9, and slotted arm 10 are preferably cast in one piece.

12 indicates a packing of rubber or other suitable material encircling the plug 8, so as to insure a tight fit of the plug in the neck 7.

13 indicates ears on the outside of the bottom piece 6 and preferably cast'with such bottom, such ears being at one side of the neck 7. Between these two ears 13 projects the slotted arm 10.

14 indicates a pin passing'through the cars 13 and the slot 11 in the arm 10. I

At opposite sides of the neck 7 and integral therewith there are formed two downward extensions 15, each of which is provided with an opening 16.

17 indicates a suitable wedge adapted to be passed through the said openings 16, which wedge when passed through the openings 16 and driven to place acts to force the plug tightly into the neck 7.

18 indicates a key for securing the Wedge against accidental displacement.

19 indicates a handle on the plate 9.

With the parts in place, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom of the icetank 4 is tightly closed and may be used to contain ice, as usual. When it is desired to clean the tank of the dirt, sawdust, &c., which will accumulate therein, the pin 18 is removed and the wedge 17 knocked out, allowing the plug to be pulled or forced out of the neck 7, when it will hang in substantially the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The neck 7 being thus opened, the interior of the tank can be easily and quickly cleaned, as, owing to the sloping sides of the blocks 5 and bottom 6, all matter'in the tank will be washed out through the neck 7 when the tank is drained. The plug cannot get lost or misplaced, owing to its permanent connection to the bottom of the tank through the pin 14, that passes through the slotted arm 10. The longitudinal slot 11 in said arm is of sufficient length to permit perfect freedom of movement of the plug 8 When such plug is being forced into or withdrawn from the neck 7.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a tank having anopening therein, of a plug adapted to close said opening, a hinge for said plug consisting of two ormore ears or leaves arranged side by side with openings therein, one of said openings being in the form of a slot, a pin passing through said openings, whereby the plug is adapted to be moved in a straight line into or out of said tank-opening, apert'ured extensions pendent from each side of the tank-opening, and a wedge-bar adapted to be driven into said apertures and against the plug and operating to force said plug into the opening and hold it therein, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a tank having an opening in its bottom, of a plug adapted to close said opening, a slotted arm adjacent to said opening and rigidly connected with said plug, a pin passing through said slotted arm and adapted to hold said plug when the latter is out of use, apertured extensions pendent from each side of the opening, and a wedge bar arranged to be driven into said apertures beneath the plug and operating to force said plug into the opening and hold it therein, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a tank having an inclined bottom 6 terminating in a neck 7, said neck having oppositely-located extensions 15, of a plug 8 adapted to close said neck, a slotted arm 10 connected with said plug, a pin'14 passing through the slot in said arm and adapted to retain said plug when said plug is out of use, and a bar passing through-openings 16 in said oppositely-located extensions and adapted to retain said plug in said neck, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN BROWN WATSON.

'Witnesses:

JULIA M. BRISTOL, ALBERT H. ADAMS. 

